SERU Logo: Guidelines for Use

SERU, a NISO Best Practice (available at http://www.niso.org/publications/rp/RP-7-2012_SERU.pdf), is an easy way for libraries and publishers to streamline ordering electronic resources -- without the time and labor required to negotiate a license. And SERU now has a new logo available for use! Registered SERU members (see the SERU Registry) should announce and promote their SERU participation by using the simple term "SERU Participant." Registered SERU members are also encouraged to use the SERU logo below.

Publishers/Content Providers: SERU logos are available to publishers/content providers that are registered SERU participants. SERU logos can be used to identify products that you offer in accordance with SERU and its terms of use. If you state that your product is available via SERU, the product must in fact be available for purchase with SERU in the manner described in the SERU Recommended Practice. The SERU logo should link back to the NISO SERU website, at http://www.niso.org/workrooms/seru. If you need assistance with posting this logo, please contact NISO at nisohq@niso.org.

Libraries/Consortia: SERU logos are available to libraries/consortia that are registered SERU participants. The SERU logo should link back to the NISO SERU website, at http://www.niso.org/workrooms/seru. If you need assistance with posting this logo, please contact NISO at nisohq@niso.org.

Publishers and subscribing institutions choosing to use SERU instead of a license for some of their resources are asked to indicate their support by registering at the NISO SERU website (http://www.niso.org/committees/SERU/). Registering does not require that SERU apply to all resources or all transactions.

Rather than reproducing SERU statements, publishers are encouraged to link to the SERU documents from their websites. The SERU text is not meant to be modified or copied and should not be presented as a click-through license.

The SERU statements should be used only by mutual agreement between the publisher and the subscribing institution. If one or both partners in a transaction are not comfortable with the SERU approach or the statements of shared understanding, then a negotiated license is appropriate. Neither publishers nor subscribing institutions should require their partner to accept SERU if either prefers a license agreement.

The purchase order or similar document should include specific business terms that affect the price such as the amount of content and length of access to it. Publishers should clearly state factors affecting the price and libraries should be clear about their user population. Purchase communications should reference SERU with a statement to the effect that: “In the absence of a separate license agreement, XXXXXXX follows the SERU guidelines, as published at the NISO SERU website: http://www.niso.org/workrooms/seru/.”

If either party desires to make changes to the statements, this could indicate that developing a license agreement is appropriate in lieu of using SERU.

Any sublicensing, modifying, assignment, transfer, sales, or other distribution of the SERU logos is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of NISO. Artwork for this logo is provided in a range of sizes and formats in the links that follow: